Business booms for divorce attorneys post-Valentine's Day

TAMPA — It's a holiday known for love and romance, but how about divorce? This is the side of Valentine's Day you won't see on a Hallmark shelf.

It's Feb. 17, the first Monday after Valentine's Day. The roses are still red. The chocolate is still tasty. And ironically, at the Divorce Center in Tampa, business is booming.

For after V-Day, comes D-Day.

"Every year it's like that," said Howard Iken, a divorce attorney with Ayo & Iken law firm. "We have statistics. We track it. This is something I know is an absolute fact."

Every year, divorce attorneys across the country prepare for the fallout when couples fall out of love. January through March is known industry-wide as "divorce season." Iken says February is typically the peak.

According to relationship counselor Candace MacDowall, the holidays can play a big part in the uptick.

"It's a Hallmark holiday. Everything you see is inspired by love, harmony. So individuals who are already on a rocky road, or experiencing discord, tend to want to achieve this ideal," MacDowall said.

When the expectations are that high she says disappointment can happen easily.

That's when Iken's phone starts to ring.

"We've got six attorneys here that concentrate on this kind of law and everyone is busy," Iken said.

In addition to the holiday letdown, Iken pointed out February also corresponds with tax time. He says many of his clients use their refunds to pay for their attorney fees.